Deregulate Like Denmark

Summary:
The 2016 presidential campaign included many comparisons between U.S. policies and those of other countries. Many on the left, like Sen. Bernie Sanders, held up Denmark as a model for how governments ought to operate and interact with their citizens. There is at least one area in which Sanders was right: America should strive to emulate Denmark's approach to telecommunications policy.
Telecom regulation in the United States has become increasingly centralized and heavy-handed over the last several years. Most notably, 2015's Open Internet Order was a massive expansion of power for the Federal Communications Commission. Although purported to help consumers, its onerous new restrictions will stall the innovation that had been flourishing in the heretofore relatively unregulated Internet ecosystem.
Turning to Denmark, we see a world leader in broadband. It has been recognized as one of the top digital nations by the United Nations Telecommunications Union, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and the European Commission. And it has a flourishing, competitive market for mobile services, including mobile internet access.

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The 2016 presidential campaign included many comparisons between U.S. policies and those of other countries. Many on the left, like Sen. Bernie Sanders, held up Denmark as a model for how governments ought to operate and interact with their citizens. There is at least one area in which Sanders was right: America should strive to emulate Denmark's approach to telecommunications policy.

Telecom regulation in the United States has become increasingly centralized and heavy-handed over the last several years. Most notably, 2015's Open Internet Order was a massive expansion of power for the Federal Communications Commission. Although purported to help consumers, its onerous new restrictions will stall the innovation that had been flourishing in the heretofore relatively unregulated Internet ecosystem.

Turning to Denmark, we see a world leader in broadband. It has been recognized as one of the top digital nations by the United Nations Telecommunications Union, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and the European Commission. And it has a flourishing, competitive market for mobile services, including mobile internet access.